All those detained for explosion in Lebanese port released

According to the news from the official Lebanese agency NNA, it was noted that the chief prosecutor of the Court of Appeal, Gassan Uvaydat, “without exception” decided to release all the detainees prosecuted for the port explosion.

In the news, which indicated that those who were released would be tried pending trial, it was stated that Uvaydat had issued a ban on leaving the country for the people in question.

It was shared that Judge Tarık Bitar, who investigated the explosion, was confiscated from the file and that all his powers were taken with the decision to ban him from leaving the country.

It was also emphasized in the news that the new arrest or summons of the defendants is now under the jurisdiction of the Superior Council of the Magistracy.

INVESTIGATION JUDGE SUBJECT TO THE DECISION

Judge Tarık Bitar, who is investigating the explosion, said in a statement to the official NNA news agency that he will continue his duty to examine the file until an indictment is prepared.

Recalling that Uvaydat’s name was also included in the indictment as part of the investigation he was conducting, Bitar said: “(Uvaydat) cannot make any decision regarding this file.” saying.

Judge Bitar pointed out that the decision to release the detainees made by Uvaydat is illegal and should not be implemented.

EXPLOSION IN BEIRUT PORT

On August 4, 2020, a fire broke out in a warehouse containing explosives in the Port of Beirut, followed by a very powerful explosion that shook the entire city.

It was claimed that more than 200 people were killed in the blast, more than 6,000 people were injured, and 300,000 people were displaced due to the blast.

INVESTIGATION PROCESS AND POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS

The investigation process of the explosion generated political controversy in Lebanon.

The first judge, Fadi Savvan, in charge of carrying out the investigation, was dismissed after accusing former Prime Minister Hassan Diyab and three former ministers of “negligence and guilt” in the incident, and Tarık Bitar was appointed in his place.

However, Judge Bitar also became a target after his decisions against politicians like Savvan.

Lawyers for former Finance Minister Ali Hasan Halil and former Public Works and Transport Minister Gazi Zuaytir filed a lawsuit in December 2021 demanding that Bitar be fired for allegedly “politicizing the investigation”.

Immediately afterwards, the Court of Appeals suspended the investigation process of the explosion in the port of Beirut.

In the Lebanese press news on January 23, it was stated that Bitar resumed the investigation after the legal deadline elapsed since the complaints against him elapsed and no conclusion was reached.

Bitar added the names of chief prosecutor Uvaydat and 3 more judges to the indictment due to charges such as “murder, arson and sabotage” within the scope of the investigation, which started again after a 13-month hiatus.

Uvaydat, for his part, stated yesterday in a statement that they ignored the decision to add his name to the accusation and that Bitar’s hand was removed from the file in question. (AA)